Trump tries out new midterm message: Pretend I’m on the ballot

The president’s pitch came as he urged Republicans in South Carolina to vote for Sen. Darline Graham in Tuesday’s Senate GOP runoff.

President Donald Trump wants his supporters to think beyond his endorsed candidates and imagine that he is on the ballot when they vote in this year’s midterm elections.

The president made his new pitch Friday night in South Carolina at a rally in support of Sen. Darline Graham, urging the crowd to back her in Tuesday’s Senate GOP runoff.

“The problem that we have is, they say that Trump does great when he’s on the ballot, but when he’s not on the ballot, his people don’t come and they don’t vote for senators, congressmen and other Republicans,” Trump said.

“So what I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot. Just come and vote. It’s so important,” he said.

Trump suggested the MAGA faithful also take that approach in other elections, saying, “We have to get Darline and other people elected.”